UP 
413 

A3 


UC-NRLF 


CO 

o 


No.  1866 


DESCRIPTION 


OF  THE 


TOMATIC  PISTOL  CALIBER  .45 

MODEL  OF  1911 

WITH  RULES  FOR  MANAGEMENT.  MEMORANDA  OF 

TRAJECTORY,  AND  DESCRIPTION 

OF  AMMUNITION 


{SIX  PLATES) 


APRIL  1,  1912 
REVISED  FEBRUARY  14,  1P14 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 

1917 


No.  1866 


DESCRIPTION 


OF  THE 


AUTOMATIC  PISTOL,  CALIBER  .45 

MODEL  OF  1911 

WITH  RULES  FOR  MANAGEMENT.  MEMORANDA  OF 

TRAJECTORY,  AND  DESCRIPTION 

OF  AMMUNITION 


{SIX  PLATES) 


APRIL  1,  1912 
REVISED  FEBRUARY  14,  1914 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 

1917 


A3 


War  Department, 
Office  of  the  Chief  of  Ordnance, 

Washington,  February  14,  1914. 
This  Manual  is  published  for  the  information  and  government  of  the  Regular 
Army  and  Organized  Militia  of  the  United  States. 
By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War : 

William  Crozier, 
Brigadier  General,  Chief  of  Ordnance, 
(3) 


368370 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/descriptionofautOOunitrich 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Component  parts . 7 

Plates,  list 7-S 

Detailed  description 8-11 

To  dismount  and  assemble 11-13 

Method  of  operation 13 

Safety  devices 13-14 

Operation  in  detail 14-16 

Parts  issued  for  repairs 16 

Important  points 16-17 

Cleaning  kit 17 

Miscellaneous  data IT 

Exterior  ballistics . 18-19- 

Ammunition 19-20 

Packing 2a 

(5) 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  AUTOMATIC  PISTOL,  CALIBER  .45, 
MODEL  OF  1911. 


(6  plates.) 


The  automatic  pistols,  caliber  .45,  model  of  1911,  in  the  military 
service  are  marked  on  the  right  side,  "  Model  of  1911,  U.  S.  Army  "; 
on  the  left  side,  "  United  States  Property."  They  are  also  marked 
with  the  serial  number  of  the  pistol. 


COMPONENT    FABT8. 

1.  Receirer. 

28. 

Mainspring  cap. 

2.  Barrel. 

29. 

Mainspring-cap  pin. 

3.  Slide. 

30. 

Sear. 

4.  Plunger  tube. 

31. 

Sear  spring. 

5.  Slide-stop  plunger. 

32. 

Sear  pin. 

6.  Plunger  spring. 

33. 

rvisconnector. 

7.  Safty-lock  plunger. 

34. 

Trigger. 

8.  Slide  stop. 

35. 

Grip  safety. 

9.  Rear  sight. 

36. 

Safety  lock. 

]0.  Front  sight. 

37. 

Mainspring  housing. 

11.  Link. 

38. 

Housing  pin. 

12.  Link  pin. 

39. 

Housing-pin  retainer. 

13.  Barrel  bushing. 

40. 

Lanyard  loop. 

14.  Recoil  spring. 

41. 

Lanyard-loop  pin. 

15.  Recoil-spring  guide. 

42. 

Magazine  tube. 

16.  Plug. 

43. 

Magazine  base. 

17.  Extractor. 

44. 

Magazine  pins  (2). 

M 

38.  Ejector. 

45. 

Magazine  loop. 

•  jyx 

19.  Ejector  pin. 

46. 

Magazine  spring. 

20.  Firing  pin. 

47. 

Magazine  follower. 

21.  Firing-pin  spring. 

48. 

Magazine  catch. 

22.  Firing-pin  stop. 

49. 

Magazine-catch  spring. 

23.  Hammer. 

50. 

Magazine-catch  lock. 

24.  Hammer  pin. 

51. 

Stocks,  right  and  left 

25.  Hammer  strut. 

52. 

Stock  screws  (4). 

26.  Hammer-strut  pin. 

53. 

Screw  bushings  (4) 

27.  Mainspring. 

PLA 

TES. 

Magazine. 


Plate  I  is  a  side  view  of  the  pistol. 

Plate  II  is  a  longitudinal  section  of  the  pistol,  and  shows  the  com- 
ponent parts  in  assembled  position. 

Plate  III  shows  the  receiver,  barrel,  and  slide. 

(T) 


8 

Plate  IV  shows  the  other  component  parts. 
Plate  V  shows  the  magazine  and  its  component  parts. 
Plate  VI  shows  the  cartridge  and  the  trajectory. 
In  the  plates  the  numbers  correspond  with  those  given  in  the  list 
of  component  parts  and  in  the  description  that  follows. 

DETiaLED  DESCRIPTION. 

The  three  principal  parts  of  the  pistol  are  the  receiver  (1),  barrel 
(2),  and  slide  (3). 

The  receiver  (1)  has  suitable  guides  for  the  reciprocating  slide  (3), 
and  a  hollow  handle  in  which  the  magazine  is  inserted  from  below 
and  locked  in  place  by  the  magazine  catch  (48).  The  magazine  may 
be  removed  by  pressure  upon  the  checkered  end  of  the  magazine 
catch  (48),  which  projects  from  the  left  side  of  the  receiver  (1)  in  a 
convenient  position  for  operation  by  the  thumb. 

The  magazine  catch  (48)  engages  with  and  locks  the  magazine 
under  the  pressure  of  the  magazine  catch  spring  (49)  and  is  held  in 
the  receiver  (1)  by  means  of  the  magazine  catch  loch  (50). 

The  magazine  consists  of  a  magazine  tube  (42)  closed  at  the  bottom 
by  means  of  the  magazine  hase  (43)  secured  with  two  magazine  pins 
(44).  The  magazine  base  (43)  has  riveted  to  it  the  magazine  loop 
(45)  to  which  can  be  attached  a  lanyard  to  prevent  loss  of  the  maga- 
zine. Within  the  magazine  tube  (42)  is  contained  the  magazine 
spring  (46)  exerting  a  pressure  against  the  magazine  follower  (47), 
which  serves  as  a  movable  platform  for  the  cartridges. 

Secured  at  each  end  of  the  handle  of  receiver  (1)  on  both  sides 
are  screw  bushings  (53),  on  to  which  are  fitted  the  stocks  (52)  and 
into  which,  to  secure  the  latter,  are  screwed  the  stock  screios  (52). 

In  front  of  the  handle  of  receiver  (1),  in  the  trigger  guard,  is 
seated  the  trigger  (34)  ;  in  rear  and  above  the  handle  the  firing 
mechanism  is  arranged,  comprising  the  hammer  (23),  mounted  on 
the  hammer  pin  (24),  the  sear  (30)  and  (automatic)  disconnector 
(33),  mounted  together  on  the  sear  pin  (32),  the  grip  safety  (35), 
and  safety  lock  (36) ;  also  the  mainspring  (27),  and  the  sear  spring 
(31).     The  mainspring  (27)  is  seated  within  the  mainspring  housing 

(37)  and  there  held  by  the  mainspring-cap  pin  (29).  The  main- 
spring housing  (37)  also  contains  the  mainspring  cap  (28)  and  the 
housing -pin  retainer  (39).  The  conical  point  of  the  latter  protrudes 
slightly  into  the  hole  for  the  housing  pin  (38),  engaging  with  the 
groove  around  the  middle  thereof,  thereby  holding  the  housing  pin 

(38)  in  place.  Into  the  base  of  the  mainspring  housing  (37)  is 
fitted  the  lanyard  loop  (40)  secured  by  the  lanyard-loop  pin  (41). 

The  sear  spring  (31)  has  a  rib  on  its  lower  end  which  fits  into  a 
slot  in  the  rear  wall  of  the  magazine  seat  and  keeps  the  spring  from 
moving  vertically.    The  mainspring  housing  (37),  bearing  against 


the  rear  of  the  spring,  locks  it  in  position  and  gives  to  it  the  re- 
quired tension.  The  hammer  strut  (25)  is  attached  to  the  hammer 
(23)  in  rear  of  its  pivot  by  means  of  the  hammer-strut  pin  (26). 
Its  lower  end  rests  in  the  mainspring  cap  (28). 

Above  the  handle  on  the  left  side  are  the  slide  stop  plunger  (5)  and 
safety  lock  plwnger  (7)  with  their  ends  protruding  from  the  front 
and  rear,  respectively,  of  the  plunger  tube  (4).  The  plunger  spring 
(6)  is  seated  between  the  plungers  (5  and  7)  within  the  plunger  tube 
(4)  and  yieldingly  holds  them  in  position. 

The  ejector  (18)  is  seated  at  the  top  of  the  receiver  (1)  near  the 
rear  end  at  the  left  side.     It  is  held  in  place  by  the  ejector  pin  (19). 

The  top  of  the  receiver  (1)  forward  of  the  trigger  guard  has  a 
semitubular  extension  which  forms  the  seat  for  the  rear  portion  of  the 
recoil  spring  (14). 

The  hai^el  (2)  of  the  pistol  is  largest  at  the  breech,  and  at  the  top 
has  two  transverse  locking  ribs,  the  forward  edges  of  which,  together 
with  the  forward  edge  of  the  breech  portion,  serve  to  positively  inter- 
lock the  barrel  (2)  with  the  slide  (3)  when  in  the  firing  position. 
At  its  rear  ia  an  extension  which  facilitates  the  entrance  of  the  car- 
tridge from  the  magazine  into  the  chamber.  The  rear  end  of  the 
barrel  (2)  is  attached  to  the  receiver  (1)  by  the  link  (11),  link  pin 
(12),  and  the  pin  of  the  slide  stop  (8),  and  swinging  thereon  can 
move  a  limited  distance  lengthwise  and  also  in  a  vertical  plane. 

The  side  walls  of  the  slide  (3)  overlap  the  sides  of  the  receiver  (1), 
and  being  provided  with  longitudinal  ribs  corresponding  with  similar 
grooves  at  the  top  of  the  receiver  (1),  the  slide  (3)  is  free  to  move 
longitudinally. 

The  slide  (3)  has  at  its  front  end  a  strong  tubular  abutment  which 
is  in  line  with  the  forward  portion  of  the  receiver  (1),  and  which 
permits  the  slide  (3)  to  move  to  the  rear  until  the  rear  end  of  the 
abutment  comes  in  contact  with  the  flange  of  the  recoil  spring  guide 
(15)  against  the  shoulder  in  the  receiver  (1)  at  its  forward  end, 
thereby  positively  limiting  the  rearward  movement  of  the  slide  (3). 
The  latter  is  therefore  necessarily  assembled  to  the  receiver  (1)  from 
the  front,  and  is  prevented  from  being  thrown  rearward  from  the 
receiver  (1)  under  any  circumstances. 

In  the  abutment  at  the  front  end  of  the  slide  (3)  is  seated  the 
forward  end  of  the  recoil  sprhig  (14) ,  fitted  into  the  plug  (16).  The 
rear  end  of  the  recoil  spring  (14)  fitted  onto  the  recoil  spring  guide 
(15)  rests  against  the  shoulder  in  the  front  end  of  the  receiver  (1). 

On  the  top  of  slide  (3)  are  mounted  the  front  sight  (10)  and  rear 
sight  (9); 

The  harrel  hushing  (13)  fits  into  the  front  end  of  the  slide  (3), 
supports  the  muzzle  end  of  the  barrel  (2),  and  holds  the  plug  (16) 
and  recoil  spring  (14)  in  place. 

104721*— 17 2 


10 

When  the  slide  (3)  and  the  barrel  (2)  therein  are  mounted  upon 
the  receiver  (1)  and  the  slide  stop  (8)  is  in  its  place,  so  that  the  pin 
part  of  the  slide  stop  (8)  locks  the  barrel  (2)  to  the  receiver  (1) 
through  the  link  (11),  the  slide  (3)  is  thereby  positively  locked  in 
place  upon  the  receiver  (1). 

The  firing  pin  (20),  firing-pin  spring  (21),  and  (shell)  extractor 
(17)  are  carried  in  the  rear  end  of  the  slide  (3)  and  locked  by  the 
firing-pin  stop  (22).  By  pressing  the  firing  pin  (20)  forward  so  as 
to  clear  the  firing-pin  stop  (22),  the  latter  is  released  and  may  be 
removed  downwardly,  leaving  both  firing  pin  (20)  and  extractor 
(17)  free  for  removal. 

The  slide  stop  (8)  consists  of  the  pin  part,  w^hich  serves  as  a  pivot 
and  passes  through  the  link  (11),  and  a  body,  on  which  is  a  thumb 
piece,  for  releasing  the  slide  (3)  from  the  open  position. 

Th^  safety  loch  (36)  consists  of  a  thin  plate,  a  projecting  pin,  a 
thumb  piece,  and  a  projecting  stud.  The  pin  part  serves  as  a  pivot 
for  the  safety  lock  (36)  and  is  at  the  same  time  a  pivot  for  the  grip 
safety  (35).  The  upper  corner  of  the  plate  has  an  angle  which  will 
fit  into  a  correspondingly  shaped  recess  in  the  slide  (3).  When  the 
slide  (3)  is  in  its  forward  position,  and  the  hammer  (23)  i«  full 
cocked,  the  safety  lock  (36)  may  be  pushed  up  manually,  by  means  of 
the  thumb  piece,  thereby  positively  locking  the  hammer  and  the  slide. 
While  the  safety  lock  (36)  is  being  pushed  up  into  the  locking  posi- 
tion the  stud  on  the  safety  lock  (36)  is  being  carried  upward  and  it 
finally  stands  in  rear  of  the  lower  arm  of  the  sear  (30),  blocking  the 
sear  (30)  and  causing  the  locking  of  the  hammer  (23).  If  the  safety 
lock  (36)  is  pressed  down  so  as  to  release  the  slide  (3)  the  projecting 
stud  on  the  safety  lock  (36)  clears  the  sear  (30),  permitting  the  sear 
(30)  to  be  operated  by  the  trigger  (34),  thereby  causing  the  release 
of  the  hammer  (23)  if  the  grip  safety  (35)  is  pressed  inward,  as  by 
the  hand  grasping  the  handle  of  the  pistol,  and  the  trigger  (34)  is 
pulled. 

The  grip  safety  (35)  is  pivoted  in  the  upper  part  of  the  receiver 
(1).  Its  lower  part  projects  from  the  rear  face  of  the  handle  under 
pressure  of  the  short  leaf  of  the  sear  spring  (31),  thereby  locking  the 
trigger  whenever  the  handle  of  the  pistol  is  released.  But  when  the 
handle  is  grasped,  as  in  the  firing  position,  the  grip  safety  (35)  re- 
leases the  trigger  (34)  without  requiring  the  attention  or  thought  of 
the  firer. 

The  (automatic)  disconnector  (33)  is  mounted  in  the  receiver  (1) 
in  rear  of  the  magazine  seat.  In  the  underside  of  the  slide  (3)  and 
near  its  rear  end,  a  recess  is  provided  which  stands  above  the  top  of 
the  disconnector  (33)  when  the  slide  (3)  is  in  the  forward  firing 
position.  With  the  slide  in  this  position  the  disconnector  (33)  is 
raised  to  its  operative  position  by  the  center  leaf  of  the  sear  spring 


11 

(31)  and  it  then  will  transmit  the  movement  of  the  trigger  (34)  to 
the  sear  (30).  The  forward  surfaces  of  the  recess  of  the  slide  (3) 
and  of  the  projecting  end  of  the  disconnector  (33)  are  inclining,  so 
that  the  rearward  movement  of  the  slide  (3)  depresses  the  connector 
(33)  until  the  slide  (3)  again  returns  to  its  forward  position.  In  this 
depressed  position  of  the  disconnector  (33)  the  trigger  (34)  is  dis- 
connected from  the  sear  (30),  allowing  the  sear  (30)  to  reengage  the 
hammer  (23).  This  arrangement  automatically  and  positively  pre- 
vents firing  of  the  pistol  except  when  all  its  parts  are  in  the  fully 
closed  and  locked  firing  position,  and  it  also  prevents  more  than  one 
shot  from  following  each  pull  of  the  trigger  (34). 

TO  DISMOUNT  AND  ASSEMBLE  THE  PISTOL. 

Remove  the  magazine  by  pressing  the  magazine  catch  (48). 

Press  the  plug  (16)  inward  and  turn  the  barrel  bushing  (13)  to 
the  right  until  the  plug  (16)  and  the  end  of  the  recoil  spring  (14) 
protrude  from  their  seat,  releasing  the  tension  of  the  spring  (14). 
As  the  plug  (16)  is  allowed  to  protrude  from  its  seat,  the  finger  or 
thumb  should  be  kept  over  it,  so  that  it  will  not  jump  away  and  be 
lost  or  strike  the  operator.  Draw  the  slide  (3)  rearward  until  the 
smaller  rear  recess  in  its  lower  left  edge  stands  above  the  projec- 
tion on  the  thumb  piece  of  the  slide  stop  (8) ;  press  gently  against 
the  end  of  the  pin  of  the  slide  stop  (8)  which  protrudes  from  the 
right  side  of  the  receiver  (1)  above  the  trigger  guard  and  remove 
the  slide  stop  (8). 

This  releases  the  link  (11),  allowing  the  barrel  (2),  with  the  link 
(11)  and  the  slide  (3),  to  be  drawn  forward  together  from  the 
receiver  (1).  carrying  with  them  the  barrel  bushing  (13)^  recoil 
spring  (14),  plug  (16),  and  recoil-spring  guide  (15). 

Eemove  these  parts  from  the  slide  (3)  by  withdrawing  the  recoil- 
spring  guide  (15)  from  the  rear  of  the  recoil  spring  (14),  and  draw- 
ing the  plug  (16)  and  the  recoil  spring  (14)  forward  from  the  slide 
(3).  Turn  plug  (16)  to  right  to  remove  from  recoil  spring  (14). 
Turn  the  barrel  bushing  (13)  to  the  left  until  it  may  be  drawn  for- 
ward from  the  slide  (3).  This  releases  the  barrel  (2)  which,  with 
the  link  (11),  may  be  drawn  forward  from  the  slide  (3),  and  by 
pushing  out  the  link  pin  (12)  the  link  (11)  is  released  from  the 
barrel  (2). 

Press  the  rear  end  of  the  firing  pin  (20)  forward  until  it  clears  the. 
firing-pin  stop  (22),  which  is  then  drawn  downward  from  its  seat  in 
the  slide  (3)  ;  the  firing  pin  (20),  firing-pin  spring  (21),  and  ex- 
tractor (17)  are  then  removed  from  the  rear  of  the  slide  (3). 

The  safety  lock  (36)  is  readily  withdrawn  from  the  receiver  (1) 
by  cocking  the  hammer  (23)  and  pushing  from  the  right  on  the  pin 
part  or  pulling  outward  on  the  thumb  piece  of  the  safety  lock  (36) 


12 

when  it  is  midway  between  its  upper  and  lower  positions.  The 
cocked  hammer  (23)  is  then  lowered  and  removed  after  removing  the 
hammer  pin  (24)  from  the  left  side  of  the  receiver  (1).  The  housing- 
pin  (38)  is  then  pushed  out  from  the  right  side  of  the  receiver  (1)^ 
which  allows  the  mainspring  housing  (37)  to  be  withdrawn  down- 
ward and  the  grip  safety  (35)  rearward  from  the  handle.  The  sear 
spring  (31)  may  then  be  removed.  By  pushing  out  the  sear  pin  (32) 
from  the  right  to  the  left  side  of  the  receiver  (1),  the  sear  (30)  and 
the  disconnector  (33)  are  released. 

To  remove  the  mainspring  (27),  mainspring  cap  (28),  and  hous- 
ing-pin retainer  (39)  from  the  mainspring  housing  (37),  compress 
the  mainspring  (27)  and  push  out  the  small  mainspring  cap  pin  (29). 

To  remove  the  magazine  catch  (48)  from  the  receiver  (1),  its 
checkered  left  end  must  be  pressed  inward,  when  the  right  end  of  the 
magazine  catch  (48)  will  project  so  far  from  the  right  side  of  the 
receiver  (1)  that  it  may  be  rotated  one-half  turn.  This  movement 
will  release  the  magazine  catch  lock  (50)  from  its  seat  in  the  receiver 
(1) ,  when  the  magazine  catch  (48) ,  the  magazine  catch  lock  (50) ,  and 
the  magazine  catch  spring  (49)  may  be  removed. 

With  the  improved  design  of  magazine  catch  lock  (50)  the  opera- 
tion of  dismounting  the  magazine  catch  (48)  is  simjDlified  in  that 
when  the  magazine  catch  (48)  has  been  .pressed  inward  the  magazine 
catch  lock., (50)  is  turned  by  means  of  a  screw  driver  or  the  short  leaf 
of  the  sear  spring  (31)  a  quarter  turn  to  the  left  when  the  magazine 
catch  (48)  with  its  contents  can  be  removed.  The  improved  design 
will  be  recognized  from  the  fact  that  the  head  of  the  magazine  catch 
lock  (50)  is  slotted. 

The  trigger  (34)  can  then  be  removed  rearwardly  from  the  re- 
ceiver (1). 

The  hammer  strut  (25)  or  the  long  arm  of  the  screw  driver  can 
can  be  used  to  push  out  all  the  pins  except  the  mainspring-cap  pin 
(29)  lanyard-loop  pin  (41),  and  ejector  pin  (19). 

To  assemble  the  pistol,  proceed  in  the  reverse  order. 

It  should  be  noted  that  the  disconnector  (33)  and  sear  (30)  are 
assembled  as  follows :  Place  the  cylindrical  part  of  the  disconnector 
(33)  in  its  hole  in  the  receiver  (1)  with  the  flat  face  of  the  lower 
part  of  the  disconnector  (33)  resting  against  the  yoke  of  the  trigger 
(34).  Then  place  the  sear  (30),  lugs  downward,  so  that  it  strad- 
dles the  disconnector  (33).  The  sear  pin  (32)  is  then  inserted  in 
place,  so  that  it  passes  through  both  the  disconnector  (33)  and  the 
sear  (30). 

The  sear  (30),  disconnector  (33),  and  hammer  (23)  being  in  place 
and  the  hammer  (23)  down,  to  replace  the  sear  spring  (31),  locate 
its  lower  end  in  the  cut  in  the  receiver  (1),  with  the  end  of  the  long 
leaf  resting  on  the  sear  (30) ;  then  insert  the  mainspring  housing  (37) 


13 

until  its  lower  end  projects  below  the  frame  about  one-eighth  of  an 
inch,  replace  the  grip  safety  (35) ,  cock  the  hammer  (23) ,  and  replace 
the  safety  lock  (36)  ;  then  lower  the  cocked  hammer  (23),  push  the 
mainspring  housing  (37)  home  and  insert  the  housing  pin  (38). 

In  assembling  the  safety  lock  (36)  to  the  receiver  (1)  use  the  tip 
of  the  magazine  follower  (47)  or  the  screw  driver  to  press  the  safety- 
lock  plunger  (7)  home,  thus  allowing  the  seating  of  the  safety  lock 
(36).  It  should  be  remembered  that  when  assembling  the  safety 
lock  (36)  the  hammer  (23)  must  be  cocked. 

When  replacing  the  slide  (3)  and  barrel  (2)  on  the  receiver  (1), 
care  must  be  taken  that  the  link  (11)  is  tilted  forward  as  far  as  pos- 
sible and  that  the  link  pin  (12)  is  in  place. 

METHOD  OF  OPERATION. 

A  loaded  magazine  is  placed  in  the  handle  and  the  slide  (3)  drawn 
fully  back  and  released,  thus  bringing  the  first  cartridge  into  the 
chamber  (if  the  slide  is  open,  push  down  the  slide  stop  (8)  to  let  the 
slide  (3)  go  forward).  The  hammer  (23)  is  thus  cocked  and  the 
pistol  is  ready  for  firing. 

If  it  is  desired  to  make  the  pistol  ready  for  instant  use  and  for 
firing  with  the  least  possible  delay  the  maximum  number  of  shots, 
draw  back  the  slide  (3),  insert  a  cartridge  by  hand  into  the  cham- 
ber of  the  barrel  (2),  allow  the  slide  (3)  to  close,  then  lock  the  slide 
(3)  and  the  cocked  hammer  (23)  by  pressing  the  safety  lock  (36) 
upward,  and  insert  a  loaded  magazine.  The  slide  (3)  and  hammer 
(23)  being  thus  positively  locked,  the  pistol  may  be  carried  safely  at 
full  cock,  and  it  is  only  necessary  to  press  down  the  safety  lock  (36) 
(which  is  located  within  easy  reach  of  the  thumb)  when  raising  the 
pistol  to  the  firing  position. 

The  grip  safety  (35)  is  provided  with  an  extending  horn,  which 
not  only  serves  as  a  guard  to  prevent  the  hand  of  the  shooter  from 
slipping  upward  and  being  struck  or  injured  by  the  hammer  (23), 
but  also  aids  in  accurate  shooting  by  keeping  the  hand  in  the  same 
position  for  each  shot ;  and,  furthermore,  permits  the  lowering  of  the 
cocked  hammer  (23)  with  one  hand  by  automatically  pressing  in  the 
grip  safety  (35)  when  the  hammer  (23)  is  drawn  slightly  beyond  the 
cocked  position.  In  order  to  release  the  hammer  (23),  the  grip 
safety  (35)  must  be  pressed  in  before  the  trigger  (34)  is  pulled. 

SAFETY  DEVICES. 

It  is  impossible  for  the  firing  pin  (20)  to  discharge  or  even  touch 
the  primer,  except  on  receiving  the  full  blow  of  the  hammer  (23). 
The  pistol  is  provided  with  two  automatic  safety  devices : 
(1)   The  (automatic)  disconnector  (33)  which  positively  prevents 
the  release  of  the  hammer  (23)  unless  the  slide  (3)  and  barrel  (2) 


14 

are  in  the  forward  position  and  safely  interlocked;  this  device  also 
controls  the  firing  and  prevents  more  than  one  shot  from  following 
each  pull  of  the  trigger  (34). 

(2)  The  (automatic)  grip  safety  (35)  at  all  times  locks  the  trigger 
(34)  unless  the  handle  is  firmly  grasped  and  the  grip  safety  (35) 
pressed  in. 

The  pistol  is  in  addition  provided  with  a  safety  lock  (36)  by  which 
the  closed  slide  (3)  and  the  cocked  hammer  (23)  can  be  at  will  posi- 
tively locked  in  position. 

OPERATION    IN    DETAIL. 

The  magazine  may  be  charged  with  any  number  of  cartridges  from 
one  to  seven. 

The  charged  magazine  is  inserted  in  the  handle  and  the  slide 
(3)  drawn  once  to  the  rear.  This  movement  cocks  the  hammer  (23), 
compresses  the  recoil  spring  (14),  and,  when  the  slide  (3)  reaches  the 
rear  position,  the  magazine  follower  (47)  raises  the  upper  cartridge 
into  the  path  of  the  slide  (3).  The  slide  (3)  is  then  released  and,  be- 
ing f OTced  forward  by  the  recoil  spring  ( 14) ,  carries  the  first  cartridge 
into  the  chamber  of  the  barrel  (2).  As  the  slide  (3)  approaches  its 
forward  position,  it  encounters  the  rear  extension  of  the  barrel  (2) 
and  forces  the  barrel  forward ;  the  rear  end  of  the  barrel  (2)  swings 
upward  on  the  link  (11),  turning  on  the  muzzle  end  as  on  a  fulcrum. 
When  the  slide  (3)  and  barrel  (2)  reach  their  forward  position  they 
are  positively  locked  together  by  the  locking  ribs  on  the  barrel  (2) 
and  their  joint  forward  movement  is  arrested  by  the  barrel  lug 
encountering  the  pin  on  the  slide  stop  (8). 

The  pistol  is  then  ready  for  firing. 

When  the  hammer  (23)  is  cocked,  the  hammer  strut  (25)  moves 
downward,  compressing  the  mainspring  (27),  and  the  sear  (30), 
under  action  of  the  long  leaf  of  the  sear  spring  (31) ,  engages  its  nose 
in  the  notch  on  the  hammer  (23). 

In  order  that  the  pistol  may  be  fired  the  following  conditions 
must  exist:  The  grip  safety  (35)  must  be  pressed  in,  leaving  the 
trigger  (34)  free  to  move;  the  slide  (3)  must  be  in  its  forward  posi- 
tion, properly  interlocked  with  the  barrel  (2) ,  so  that  the  disconnector 
(33)  is  held  in  the  recess  on  the  underside  of  the  slide  (3)  under  the 
action  of  the  sear  spring  (31),  transmitting  in  this  position  any 
motion  of  the  trigger  (34)  to  the  sear  (30)  ;  the  safety  lock  (36)  must 
be  down,  in  the  unlocked  position,  so  that  the  sear  (30)  will  be 
unblocked  and  free  to  release  the  hammer  (23)  and  the  slide  will  be 
free  to  move  back. 

On  pulling  the  trigger  (34),  the  sear  (30)  is  moved  and  the  released 
hammer  (23)  strikes  the  firing  pin  (20)  which  transmits  the  blow  to 
the  primer  of  the  cartridge.     The  pressure  of  the  gases  generated  in 


15 

the  barrel  (2),  by  the  explosion  of  the  powder  in  the  cartridge,  is 
exerted  in  a  forward  direction  against  the  bullet,  driving  it  through 
the  boriB,  and  in  a  rearward  direction  against  the  face  of  the  slide  (3) , 
driving  the  latter  and  the  barrel  (2)  to  the  rear  together.  The 
downward  swinging  movement  of  the  barrel  (2)  unlocks  it  from  the 
slide  (3),  and  the  barrel  (2)  is  then  stopped  in  its  lowest  position. 
The  slide  (3)  continues  to  move  to  the  rear,  opening  the  breech, 
cocking  the  hammer  (23) ,  extracting  and  ejecting  the  empty  shell  and 
compressing  the  recoil  spring  (14),  until  it — the  slide  (3) — reaches  its 
rearmost  position  when  another  cartridge  is  raised  in  front  of  it  and 
forced  into  the  chamber  of  the  barrel  (2)  by  the  return  movement  of 
the  slide  (3)  under  pressure  of  the  recoil  spring  (14). 

The  weight  and  consequently  the  inertia  of  the  slide  (3),  aug- 
mented by  those  of  the  barrel  (2)  are  so  many  times  greater  than  the 
weight  and  inertia  of  the  bullet  that  the  latter  has  been  given  its 
maximum  velocity  and  has  been  driven  from  the  muzzle  of  the  bar- 
rel (2)  before  the  slide  (3)  and  barrel  (2)  have  recoiled  to  the  point 
where  the  barrel  (2)  commences  its  unlocking  movement.  This  con- 
struction, therefore,  delays  the  opening  of  the  breech  of  the  barrel 

(2)  until  after  the  bullet  has  left  the  muzzle  and  therefore  practically 
prevents  the  escape  of  any  of  the  powder  gases  to  the  rear  after  the 
breech  has  been  opened. 

This  factor  of  safety  is  further  increased  by  the  tension  of  the 
recoil  spring  (14)  and  mainspring  (27),  both  of  which  oppose  the 
rearward  movement  of  the  slide  (3). 

While  the  comparatively  great  weight  of  the  slide  (3)  of  this  pis- 
tol insures  safety  against  premature  opening  of  the  breech,  it  also 
insures  operation  of  the  pistol,  because  at  the  point  of  the  rearward 
opening  movement  where  the  barrel  (2)  is  unlocked  and  stopped, 
the  heavy  slide  (3)  has  attained  a  momentum  which  is  sufficient  to 
carry  it  through  its  complete  opening  movement  and  makes  the 
pistol  ready  for  another  shot. 

When  the  magazine  has  been  emptied,  the  pawl-shaped  slide  stop 
(8)  will  be  raised  by  the  magazine  follower  (47)  under  action  of  the 
magazine  spring  (46)  into  the  front  recess  on  the  lower  left  side  of 
the  slide  (3),  thereby  locking  the  slide  (3)  in  the  open  position,  and 
serving  as  an  indicator  to  remind  the  shooter  that  the  empty  maga- 
zine must  be  replaced  by  a  charged  one  before  the  firing  can  be 
continued. 

Pressure  upon  the  magazine  catch  (48)  quickly  releases  the  empty 
magazine  from  the  handle  and  permits  the  insertion  of  a  loaded 
magazine. 

To  release  the  slide  (3)  from  the  open  position,  it  is  only  necessary 
to  press  upon  the  thumb  piece  of  the  slide  stop  (8)  when  the  slide 

(3)  will  go  forward  to  its  closed  position,  carrying  a  cartridge  from 


16 

the  previously  inserted  magazine  into  the  barrel  (2)  and  making  the 
pistol  ready  for  firing  again. 

PARTS  ISSUED  FOR   REPAIRS. 


For  making  repairs  to  these  pistols  in  the  hands  of  troops  in  field 
and  garrison  the  following  spare  parts  will  be  issued.  The  number 
opposite  each  part  is  the  maximum  for  100  pistols  for  ordinary 
repairs  per  year: 


Name  of  component  part. 


Disconnector 

Extractor 

Firing  pin 

Firing-pin  spring... . 
Firing-pin  stop. . . : . . 

Hammer  pin 

Hammer  strut 

Hammei -strut  pin . . 

Housingpin 

Housing-pin  retainer 

Link 

Link  pin 

Mainspring 

Mainspring  cap 


Number. 


Name  of  component  part. 


Mainspring-cap  pin 

Plug 

Plunger  spring 

Recoil  spring 

Recoil-spring  guide. 
Safety-lock  plimger 

Sear 

Sear  pin 

Sear  spring 

Slide  stop 

Slide-stop  plunger. . 

Stock,  left 

Stock,  right 

Stock  screw 


Number. 


IMPORTANT  POINTS. 

1.  Never  place  the  trig^ger  finger  within  the  trigger  guard  until  it  is 
intended  to  fire  and  the  pistol  is  pointed  toward  the  target. 

2.  Do  not  carry  the  pistol  in  the  holster  with  the  hammer  cocked  and 
safety  lock  on,  except  in  an  emergency. 

If  the  pistol  is  so  carried  in  the  holster,  cocked  and  safety  lock  on, 
the  butt  of  the  pistol  should  be  rotated  away  from  the  body  when 
withdrawing  the  pistol  from  the  holster,  in  order  to  avoid  displacing 
the  safety  lock. 

3.  The  trigger  should  be  pulled  with  the  forefinger.  If  the  trigger 
is  pulled  with  the  second  finger,  the  forefinger  extending  along  the 
side  of  the  receiver  is  apt  to  press  against  the  projecting  pin  of  the 
slide  stop  and  cause  a  jam  when  the  slide  recoils. 

4.  Care  must  be  exercised  in  inserting  the  magazine  to  insure  its 
engaging  with  the  magazine  catch. 

5.  Pressure  must  be  entirely  relieved  from  the  trigger  after  each 
shot  in  order  that  the  trigger  may  reengage  with  the  sear. 

6.  To  remove  cartridges  not  fired  disengage  the  magazine  slightly 
and  then  extract  the  cartridge  in  the  barrel  by  drawing  back  the 
slide. 

7.  The  pistol  must  be  kept  clean,  free  from  rust,  and  properly 
oiled.  Excessive  oil  left  in  the  mechanism  will  cause  the  parts  to 
gum  and  work  stiffly. 

8.  Care  must  be  exercised  to  insure  that  the  disconnector  is  prop- 
erly assembled  to  the  sear. 


17 

9.  The  hammer  should  not  be  snapped  when  the  pistol  is  partially 
disassembled. 

10.  The  stocks  need  never  be  removed,  as  the  pistol  can  be  dis- 
mounted and  assembled  without  removing  them. 

11.  Use  no  hammer  either  in  assembling  or  dismounting  the  pistol. 

12.  Magazine:  Reasonable  care  should  be  taken  to  see  that  the 
magazine  is  not  dented  or  otherwise  damaged. 

Never  insert  the  magazine  and  strike  it  smartly  with  the  hand  to 
force  it  home,  as  this  may  spring  the  base  or  the  inturning  lips  at 
the  top.     It  should  be  inserted  by  a  quick  continuous  movement. 

CLEANING  KIT. 

For  cleaning,  dismounting,  and  assembling  the  pistol  a  kit  is  issued 
consisting  of  a  metal  box  containing  the  following  articles: 

10  screw  drivers. 

10  cleaning  rods,  brass   (made  so  that  either  a  cloth  wiper  or  bristle 

brush  can  be  used). 
10  thong  brushes. 
1  oil  can. 
1  grease  pot  for  cosmic. 

The  above  articles,  with  the  exception  of  the  oil  can  and  grease 
pot  for  cosmic,  are  also  supplied  as  part  of  the  contents  of  the  arm 
repair  chest,  model  of  1910,  when  this  chest  is  issued  to  organization? 
equipped  with  the  pistol.  The  cleaning  kit  will  therefore  be  issued 
only  to  organizations  equipped  with  the  pistol  and  not  provided  wit  J* 
an  arm  repair  chest. 

MISCELLANEOUS  DATA   CONCERNING  PISTOL. 

Weight,  2  pounds  7  ounces. 
Trigger  pull,  6  to  7J  pounds. 
Total  length,  8.593  inches. 
Barrel : 

Length,  5.025  inches. 
Diameter  of  bore,  0.445  inch. 
Eifling: 

Grooves — 

Number,  6. 
Width,  0.1522  inch. 
Depth,  0.003  inch. 
Lands,  width,  0.072  inch. 
Twist,  one  turn  in  16  inches,  left-handed. 
Front  sight  above  axis  of  bore,  0.5597  inch. 


18 


EXTERIOR  BALLISTICS. 


1.   RAPIDITY  OF  FIRE. 


(a)  This  pistol  has  been  fired  21  times  in  12  seconds,  beginning 
with  pistol  empty  and  loaded  magazines  on  a  table  at  side  of  oper- 
ator. 

(h)  Firing  at  25  yards  distance  at  a  target  6  feet  by  2  feet  under 
the  same  conditions  as  in  (a)  21  shots  were  fired  in  28  seconds,  mak- 
ing 21  hits,  with  a  mean  radius  of  5.85  inches. 

(c)  Firing  10  shots,  using  a  muzzle  rest  at  25  yards  distance,  at  a 
tai'get  6  feet  by  2  feet,  a  mean  radius  of  dispersion  of  0.855  inch  has 
been  obtained. 


2.    ACCURACY    WITH    MUZZLE  REST. 


Range. 

Mean 
radius. 

Mean 

yertical 

deviation. 

Yards. 
25 
50 
75 

Inches. 
0.855 
1.356 
2.244 

Inches. 

0.619 

.910 

1.422 

The  above  figures  represent  the  mean  variations  for  several  targets. 


3.    DRIFT. 


The  drift  or  deviation  due  to  the  rifling  is,  in  this  pistol,  to  the 
left,  but  is  more  than  neutralized  by  the  pull  of  the  trigger  when  the 
pistol  is  fired  from  the  right  hand.  The  drift  is  slight  at  short  ranges 
and  that  for  long  ranges  is  immaterial,  inasmuch  as  the  pistol  is  a 
short-range  weapon. 


4.   VELOCITY   WITH    STRIKING   ENERGY. 


Range. 

Velocity. 

Energy. 

Feet  per 

Foot- 

Yards. 

second. 

pounds. 

0 

802 

329 

25 

788 

317 

50 

773 

305 

75 

758 

294 

100 

744 

283 

125 

730 

272 

150 

717 

262 

175 

704 

263 

200 

691 

244 

225 

678 

235 

250 

666 

226 

19 


B.   PENETRATION    IN    WHITE   PINE. 


Range. 

Depth. 

Yards. 
25 
50 
75 
100 
150 
200 
250 

Inches. 
6.0 
5.8 
6.6 
5.5 
5.2 
4.6 
4.0 

A  penetration  of  1  inch  in  white  pine  corresponds  to  a  dangerous 
wound. 

The  penetration  in  moist  loam  at  25  yards  is  9.95  inches. 
The  pentration  in  dry  sand  at  25  yards  is  7.8  inches. 

6.  TRAJECTORY. 

Plate  VI  shows  the  trajectory  with  ammunition  model  of  1911  up 
to  250  yards.  The  maximum  ordinate  for  this  range  is  4.29  feet  at 
126  yards  from  the  muzzle.  The  trajectory  is  very  flat  up  to  75 
yards,  at  which  range  the  pistol  is  accurate.  The  angle  of  departure 
is  l°-13'-37". 

With  the  angle  of  departure  equal  to  45°,  the  range  is  approxi- 
mately 1,955  yards,  the  maximum  ordinate  of  the  trajectory  being 
2,219  feet. 

AMMUNITION  FOR  AUTOMATIC  PISTOL  CALIBER  .45,  MODEL  OF 
1911— BALL  CARTRIDGE. 

(Plate  VI.) 

The  components  of  the  ball  cartridge  consist  of  cartridge  case, 
primer,  powder,  and  bullet. 

CARTRIDGE   CASE. 

The  cartridge  case  is  cylindrical  and  is  made  of  brass.  It  is  pro- 
vided with  a  cannelure  to  prevent  the  bullet  being  forced  down  on 
the  powder. 

PRIMER. 

The  primer  consists  of  a  cup  which  contains  the  primer  composi- 
tion, a  paper  disk,  and  an  anvil  which  resists  the  blow  of  the  firing 
pin.  The  anvil  is  provided  with  two  vents  by  which  the  flame  is 
communicated  to  the  charge.  Ignition  is  produced  by  crushing  the 
composition  between  the  cup  and  anvil  by  a  blow  of  the  firing  pin. 

POWDER. 


The  powder  is  a  smokeless  powder.     The  charge  varies  with  the 
kind  and  lot,  but  it  is  generally  about  5  grains. 


20 

BULLET. 

The  body  of  the  bullet  is  a  cylinder.  The  bullet  has  a  core  of 
lead  and  tin  composition  inclosed  in  a  jacket  of  gilding  metal  or 
cupro-nickel.     It  weighs  230  ±2  grains. 

Inches. 

Length  of  bullet 0.662 

Diameter  of  cylindrical  part  of  bullet .45015 

Total  length  of  cartridge 1.261 

To  render  the  cartridge  waterproof  the  inside  of  the  neck  of  the 
case  and  the  outside  of  the  primer  are  shellacked. 

PACKING. 

The  cartridges  are  packed  in  pasteboard  boxes  containing  20 
cartridges  each.  One  hundred  pasteboard  boxes,  or  2,000  car- 
tridges are  packed  in  one  zinc  case,  hermetically  sealed,  with  handle 
for  tearing  open.  The  whole  is  inclosed  in  a  wooden,  box,  the  cover 
of  which  is  fastened  with  screw  hooks  and  thumb  nuts  and  sealed. 

Pounds. 

Weight  of  100  cartridges 4.  6 

Weight  of  2,000  cartridges,  packed 110 

"War  Department, 

Office  of  the  Chief  of  Ordnance, 

Washington,  February  14,  OllJ^. 
13092—2873. 
Aprtl  1,  1912. 

Revised,  Febr.uary  14,  1914. 
Form  No.  1866. 
Ed.  June  13-17—20,000. 

O 


Plate  II. 


Plate  III. 


I 


Plate  IV. 


5  6 


L:. 


11 


14 


UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/WWWVWWVVVl 

17 


18         19 


20 


25 


21 


22 


24 


^m  I 


26 


27 


WWI)>llfW)W(W^^ 


28      29 


30 


32 


33 


4^       C- 


38       39 


i 


* 


Plate  V. 


Plate  VI. 


.667MfiX. 


PISTOL  BALL  CARTRIDGE,  CALIBER  .45,  MODEL  OF  I9M. 


iiiiiii 


IIIIIIINIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIW^ 


Tff/IJECTORY  FOR  CAL..45 /lUTOM/IT/C  F/STOL  BULLET 


25        so        15        100        ns 

FffMKFORD  ARS£f/AL  USA  F£B.  /J,  /3/Z. 


250  YOS. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED  I 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 

Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


S  196877 


REC'D  LU 


f£'n8'68-4PM 


Mn2 1 1970 

REC'D  LCI)  JAK7-'70-lPM 


LD  21A-45m-9,'67 
(H50678l0)476B 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


